Built-in butcher block for kitchen cabinet counters and like installations



Dec. 5, 1961 R. I. BISHOP, JR 3,011,849

BUILT-IN BUTCHER BLOCK FOR KITCHEN CABINET COUNTERS AND LIKE INSTALLATIONS Filed June 6, 1958 34 Roy I.B1'shop,cf12 3e INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,011,849 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 3,011,849 BUILT-IN BUTCHER BLOCK FOR KITCHEN CABI- NET COUNTERS AND LHiE INSTALLATIONS Roy I. Bishop, Jr., 757 May St., Raymond, Wash.

Filed June 6, 1958, Ser. No. 740,421 5 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-140.4)

This invention relates to a built-in butcher block for use in kitchen cabinet counters and like installations.

Although kitchen cabinets conventionally are provided 10 with draw boards for use in preparing meats, slicing bread, etc., it obviously would be a major convenience to have a butcher block built into the counter surface, substantially flush with the same. It is the general object of the present invention to provide such a built-in block.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the butcher block of my invention in a first embodiment;

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the butcher block of my invention in a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the butcher block of my invention in a third embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the butcher block of my invention in a fourth embodiment.

Generally stated, the butcher block of my invention comprises in combination a butcher block dimensioned to be set in an opening in a kitchen cabinet counter, a T-shaped rim piece adapted to be interposed between the block and the counter with the cross piece of the T overlying the adjacent margins of the block and the counter, and means for securing the rim to the bi Means also may be provided for securing the block-r1 piece assembly to the counter.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with reference to the drawings:

In FIG. 1 the counter in which the herein described butcher block is to be mounted is indicated at 19. it is provided with a cut-out opening 12 the dimensions of which are somewhat larger than the dimensions of the butcher block 14 which it is designed to receive.

Although the butcher block may he variously constructed, it preferably is formed of a plurality of vertically grained wood pieces glued together with rabbeted top and bottom margins 16, 18 for reversibility.

A T-shaped rim piece 20 made of a suitable metal or plastic material in an appropriate configuration is insorted in the space between the edge of the butcher block and the edge of the counter opening, the cross piece of the T overlying the adjacent marginal surfaces of each. Preferably it seats in the rabbeted margin =16 of the butcher block so that a flush installation is provided.

Suitable means are furnished for securing the rim strip to the butcher block. In the illustrated form of the invention such means comprise a plurality of spaced screws 22.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is similar except that instead of permitting the butcher-rim piece assembly to seat in the counter opening by gravity only, securing means are provided for securely mounting the assembly therein.

To this end the block is bored with a plurality of 69 spaced openings 24 which are in the plane of the butcher block but below the under surface of the counter. A lug 26 is pressed into each of these openings. Rotary interengaging means are mounted on the end of the lug for interengaging the same with the under surface of the counter, such means comprising in FIG. 2 screws 28 threaded into the outer ends of the lugs and bearing against the under surface of the counter.

in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the construction is closely analogous to that of FIG. 2 with the exception that the rotary interengaging means comprises an eccentric mounted on the end of the lug. Thus in this case there are provided lugs 3i dimensioned to be inserted in openings 24 and having at their outer ends slotted heads 32 which are eccentrically mounted and operable by means of a screw driver or other tool. When the eccentric is in the position of FIG. 3, it bears against the under surface of the counter, securing the butcher block in place with rim piece 24} tightly sealing the opening between the butcher block and the counter.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is particularly suited for use where the counter top is of substantial thickness, as Where it is covered with ceramic tile. In this form of the invention the butcher block rim piece assembly is secured in place by means of a plurality of straps 34, the upper ends of which are perforated to accommodate screws 22 and the lower ends of which are provided with transverse slots dimensioned to accommodate lugs 36.

The central portion of each of lugs 36 is formed with a seating recess 38 dimensioned to seat in the slot strap 34. The inner end of each lug is bent upwardly and bears against the surface of marginal rabbet 18 in the butcher block. The outer end of the lug is threaded to accommodate a screw 40 which bears against the under surface of the counter and thus secures the assembly in place.

Thus it will be apparent that by the present invention, l have provided a butcher block assembly which is adaptable for use in installing butcher blocks of any of the usual dimension in counter tops of varying th ckness, the block being easily installed, reversible and having its edges tightly sealed to prevent liquids and food particles from entering the space between the block and the counter.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A "built-in butcher block for a kitchen cabinet counter top comprising a block member laterally dimensioned for positioning in an opening in a counter top and having a vertical peripheral edge, the upper surface of the block comprising a butcher block work surfacehaving a peripheral edge rabbet, a mounting rim having a vertical portion secured to the vertical edge of the block and an upper cross piece, said cross piece engaging the base or" the peripheral edge rabbet and engaging the upper surface of the counter top adjacent the opening for supporting the block in the opening, the depth of the peripheral edge rabbet being greater than the vertical thickness or" the mounting rim cross piece whereby the work surface of the block is disposed above the upper surface of the mounting rim cross piece and counter top.

2. The butcher block of claim 1 wherein the vertical peripheral edges of the block are provided with horizontal bores, lugs mounted in the bores projecting outwardly from the vertical peripheral edges and adapted to be disposed below the plane of the under surface of the counter top, and screw means threaded through the projecting end of each of the lugs and bearing against the under surface of the counter.

3. The butcher block of claim 1 wherein the vertical peripheral edges of the block are provided with horizontal bores, lugs rotatably mounted in the bores proadapted to be disposed below the plane of the under sure face of the counter top, and eccentric means on the projecting end of each of the lugs arranged upon rotation of the lugs to engage the under surface of a counter.

4. The butcher block of claim 1 wherein the vertical portion of the mounting rim extends below the plane of the lower surface of the butcher block and has a transverse slot through the lower end thereof, a lug extending through the slot and having a transverse seating recess engaged by an edge defining the transverse slot, the inner end of the lug bearing against the lower surface of the block, and screw means threaded into the outer end of the lug and bearing against the under sur-' face of the counter.

5. The built-in butcher block of claim 1 wherein the block has oppositely disposed flat work surfaces and peripheral edge rabbets either of which surfaces may be directed upwardly as the work surface.

6. A built-in butcher block for a kitchen cabinet counter top comprising a block member laterally dimensioned for positioning in an opening in a counter top and having vertical side edges provided with horizontal bores, lugs mounted in the bores projecting outwardly from the vertical side edges and adapted to be disposed below the plane of the under surface of the counter top, means on the projecting ends of the lugs adapted to bear against the under surface of the counter top for securing the block in the counter top, the upper surface of the block comprising a butcher block work surface having a pcripheral edge rabbet, and a mounting rim securely attached to the block and having a vertical portion secured to the block and an upper cross piece, said cross piece engaging the base of the peripheral edge rabbet and being adapted to engage the upper surface of the counter top adjacent the opening for supporting the block in the opening, the depth of the peripheral edge rabbet being greater than the vertical thickness of the mounting rim cross piece Wherer by the work surface of the block is disposed above the upper surface of the mountingrim cross piece and counter top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,088,933 Uphues Aug. 3, 1937 2,158,467 Madsen May 16, 1939 2,228,186 Thumm Ian. 7, 1941 2,440,741 Drain a- May 4, 1948 2,502,553 Ball Apr. 4, 1950 2,503,982 Willis Apr. 11, 1950 2,514,740 Brown e July 11, 1950* 2,630,579 Shaw Mar. 10, 1953 2,665,430 Ross et a1. Jan. 12, 1954 2,752,609 Phelps July 3, 1956 2,786,337 Spring Mar. 26, 1957 2,820,229 Opstad Jan. 21, 1958 2,884,649 Scharmer May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 779,648 Great Britain July 24, 1957 

